The UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday at the Red Bull Arena pits the Champions League winners against the Europa League champions. It will be only the second meeting between these clubs after the dramatic Champions League quarterfinal in 2025.
The new European football season officially kicks off on Wednesday, August 12, with the UEFA Super Cup match in Salzburg. At the Red Bull Arena, Paris Saint-Germain, the two-time defending Champions League winners, will face Aston Villa, the Europa League champions. The match starts at 8:00 PM GMT.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery emphasizes that this match is an important test for the club, which has made significant progress since his arrival. Emery believes that the UEFA Super Cup match against Paris Saint-Germain is another chance for the club to showcase its progress and continue its development, as reported by Azernews.
In May, Villa won their first major trophy in 30 years, defeating Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul. Emery believes that high-profile matches like this can boost the club's development both on and off the pitch.
PSG, under Luis Enrique, aims to become only the second team in the modern era to defend the Super Cup, following Real Madrid's success in 2016 and 2017. The Parisians beat Arsenal on penalties in the Champions League final in the 2025/26 season.
On the other hand, Aston Villa secured their place by beating Freiburg in the Europa League final. This will be only the second Super Cup appearance in the history of the Birmingham club.
The two previous meetings between these clubs produced a goal fest. In the Champions League quarterfinal in the 2024/25 season, PSG advanced with a 5-4 aggregate score. The first leg on April 9, 2025, at the Parc des Princes was won 3-1 by the Parisians, while Aston Villa won the return leg on April 15 with a 3-2 scoreline, which was not enough to overturn the deficit.
Both clubs have strengthened during the summer. PSG announced on Thursday the arrival of 24-year-old attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco. Villa has brought in center-back Modou Kéba Cissé, midfielder João Gomes, and Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho on loan from Chelsea. All three could make their debuts in Salzburg. Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi, who arrived from Freiburg, will miss the match due to injury.
PSG has recorded three wins and two losses in their last five matches, scoring five goals and conceding seven. In three of those matches, both teams scored. Their last outing was a 3-0 loss to Mallorca in a friendly on August 5.
Aston Villa has scored five goals and conceded ten in five preparation matches, with two wins and three losses, and four matches where both teams found the net. In their last match on August 7, they lost 2-1 to Bayern.
Likely PSG lineup (4-3-3): Safonov; Zabarnyi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Dro Fernández; Mbaye, Mayulu, Kvaratskhelia.
Likely Aston Villa lineup (4-2-3-1): Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Maatsen; João Gomes, Kamara; McGinn, Buendía, Garnacho; Watkins.
